POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: SAGirl on June 09, 2006, 02:38:19 pm
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Dear A.
First off, it might be useful to hear a bit more about your risk situation.
If this truly was a risky situation and it occurred in West Africa, an HIV-2 test may be recommended. The are some commercially available antibody assays in the United States -- if, in fact, this is where you're writing from -- that look for antibodies against HIV-2 and HIV-1 (including HIV-1 subtypes that are more common in West Africa). If you've had a test looking for antibodies to HIV-1, without knowing the actual name of the test used, it will be very difficult for anyone here to comment on its accuracy in detecting antibodies against HIV-2).
Perhaps you can tell us a bit more about your situation, including where you are and what your exposure risk was?
If you've already had a test, it is a good idea that you check in with the care provider who administered the test to determine if the assay used is reliably sensitive in detecting antibodies against HIV-2 and HIV-1 non-B suptypes (notably subtypes A, G, and AG).
This could be a potentially unique situation that may require unique (and necessary) follow up.
Tim Horn
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if your condom was latex and it did not break (which you would have known) you have had no risk of infection.
HIV 1 or 2 doesn't matter because of the protective barrier provided by the condom.
If the condom failed, you would have known it as it would have been shredded. They are not porous if they are latex. Quality doesn't matter because the only quality standard for you is that it didn't fail. (which would have left it shredded around the base of his penis)
I can't comment on quality in terms of failure rates there, but they protect completely until they fail.... which it seems this didn't.
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please always keep your own 'stock' of condoms on hand.. in your purse or handbag. It's the responsible thing to do.
The most common are latex. Are you sure it wasn't just shiny from lubricant?
I'm gonna misprounounce this but lambskin condoms are the next... they are very very expensive.... and virtually impossible to procure.
The last is polyurethane condoms... with is basically like you describe... saran wrap or plastic wrap... very shiny, but a condom... it crinkles but is equally effective... just has that different texture.. it is primarily made for people who are allergic to latex.
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if you are afraid to buy them in a store, you might ask a friend to do it for you, or order them online through a website that will ship them in a non-descript bag to you....
I presume you are not in the USA.... but perhaps you have something similar to planned parenthood here which provides free condoms... maybe also they do at your local testing facility?!?
Please always carry condoms with you in your purse.... if you never use them, hey, that's great! If you ever do want to, you will always have one there.
(also, make sure they don't expire and don't keep them in heat like a car)
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Dingo's advice is very very good. Please listen to him. Yeah, there is often a stigma associated with a female buying condoms. You can circumvent that by getting them online. In addition, and for what it's worth... let them talk. YOU are taking care of YOUR self. THAT is empowerment. People HATE that, especially when they see it in women. Be part of the revolution... buy condoms with pride! :)
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to expand,
sex IS NOT something to be ashamed of.
EVERYBODY DOES IT.
Your parents, your grandpararents, your cousins, your goverment officials. whereever you live.
They may not talk about it, but they ARE doing it. If it makes it easier for you, maybe go to an out of the way pharmacy where you might buy them.
You will never see those people again, so who cares?!? right?
Just have them.
It doesn't matter where you get them... online, from a friend or a 'out of town' pharmacy.
You and only you are responsible for protecting your sexual health.
Boys may not, and often don't, come prepared with condoms.
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SAGirl,
Your test at sixteen weeks is conclusive for both strains of hiv. You are hiv negative.
It also sounds to me as though the condom you used was polyurethane - and they are very effective for preventing hiv transmission.
Check out the condom and lube links in my signature line and please also see the links in the left-hand side of either page. One of them will lead you to information on the female condom (also polyurethane, btw). The female condom is also very effective for preventing hiv transmission and even better, they hand the control of condom use over to you.
You are hiv negative - continue using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse and you will stay that way.
Ann
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Sorry about that.
I am a woman. Is there any risk in being touched intimately by someone (fingered I guess is the term). I know Hiv is not transmitted through skin contact but maybe if said fingers touched someone else or himself before hand, there could be trace of sperm or vaginal secretion on his hand or is it far-fetched?
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No, and you've been here enough to know that you were to have read the transmission lesson found in the "Welcome" thread.
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Fear unfortunately is hardly ever rational, and sometimes personal reassurance goes a long way, but thanks for your time RR.
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It does not happen that way. HIV does not survive outside the body.
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Thanks AC but I think it does actually (more than many other viruses), provided that its environment (blood or sperm) remains unchanged. Then again, I am no biologist, and I am just repeating what a nurse friend of mine told me.
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Your nurse friend is wrong. HIV is not transmitted by fingering and it is NOT transmitted from environmental surfaces and it does not survive outside the body. Once you remove blood and sperm outside the body, its environment is changed. Im just quoting factual science, not a friend of mine.
Other viruses are much more adept at sustaining themselves outside the body. The common cold and or flu is a great example.
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Your nurse friend is wrong. HIV is not transmitted by fingering and it is NOT transmitted from environmental surfaces and it does not survive outside the body. Once you remove blood and sperm outside the body, its environment is changed. Im just quoting factual science, not a friend of mine.
Other viruses are much more adept at sustaining themselves outside the body. The common cold and or flu is a great example.
This makes sense, thank you.